Planet texture generator
Custom Texture Map Generators

Software to help generate planetary texture maps.


Rye Terrell's texture map generator
Planet generator
TerraNoise 
PlanetMaker
Sci-Fi World Generator (Map Palette option has a land mask)
Experilous Planet Generator
Cloud Maps
Fracplanet
Terraform (X11)


Java


TerraJ
Planet Genesis (website)


Unavailable

Software that is offline, defunct, unreleased, or otherwise unavailable but still potentially useful.


Fractal Worldmap Generator (defunct)
Scientific Exoplanets Renderer (unreleased)


Source Code

Links to uncompiled software.


Planet generator (mirror 2)
Planet generator
http://www.oocities.org/area51/6902/t_torben.html (Java version of Torben's code)
https://github.com/unconed/NFSpace
https://github.com/fluffyfreak/GLSLPlanet
Fracplanet
Fractal Worldmap Generator


Free Maps

Maps of various resolutions (often without specular, cloud, or normal maps).


Extraterrestrial Planetary Surface Texture's for Imaging Professionals
Flatplanet
Planet Texture Maps 01 (by Hameed)
Pix For Planet Texture Maps (various, license unknown)
Deep Time Maps
Maps of Fictional Worlds


Solar System


NASA Images and Textures
Planetary Pixel Emporium
JPL/Cassini Saturn's Moons


Tutorials

Comprehensive web pages that describe various ways to craft realistic texture maps.


Making Worlds (C++)
http://xnameetingpoint.weebly.com/planets1.html
libnoise (how to use the API)
Using "Planet" for 16-bit maps
Orthographic projection of 2D SVG texture map onto 3D SVG sphere


GIMP


Creating Normal Maps
GIMP Planet Making


Photoshop


Create Planets in Photoshop


Binaries

Binaries that run under Windows and Wine.


Planet Editor
Wilbur (run winetricks vcrun2010 to install missing DLLs)


Related

Related information about planetary texture maps.


Rules Can Be Beautiful (TEDx Talk, jump to 7m 30s)
Procedural Planets, Heightmaps and Textures


Research, Whitepapers


Height Maps, Cube Maps, etc.
Planet Map Generation by Tetrahedral Subdivision
Procedural generation and realtime rendering of planetary bodies
Planetary Scale Terrain Composition


Palettes

Cartography palettes for planetary colours.


Standard Color Palettes for Relief Maps
Archive of colour gradients


Long Live the Rainbow


Creating beautiful relief models


Best Colour for Elevation (no snow)


Best Colour for Elevation (with snow)


ESRI Mapping Center




Red, Blue, Green

Palettes given as red, green, blue values.

Snowball colors

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 0.50)
  colorShelf     (0.95, 0.95, 0.95, 0.50)
  colorBeach     (0.80, 0.80, 0.80, 0.75)
  colorDesert    (0.85, 0.85, 0.85, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.87, 0.87, 0.87, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.93, 0.93, 0.93, 1.00)
  colorRock      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


White-brown colors

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.25, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.37, 0.31, 0.28, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.56, 0.47, 0.42, 0.20)
  colorDesert    (0.70, 0.70, 0.70, 0.50)
  colorLowland   (0.70, 0.70, 0.70, 0.80)
  colorUpland    (0.65, 0.65, 0.65, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.60, 0.60, 0.60, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


Blue ice

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.25, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.37, 0.31, 0.28, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.65, 0.86, 0.88, 0.20)
  colorDesert    (0.59, 0.76, 0.80, 0.50)
  colorLowland   (0.93, 0.95, 0.95, 0.80)
  colorUpland    (0.90, 0.98, 0.98, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.60, 0.60, 0.60, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


Purple colors

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.25, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.37, 0.31, 0.28, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.82, 0.77, 0.81, 0.20)
  colorDesert    (0.64, 0.52, 0.56, 0.50)
  colorLowland   (0.53, 0.41, 0.44, 0.80)
  colorUpland    (0.56, 0.41, 0.45, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.60, 0.60, 0.60, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


Orange impurities

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.25, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.37, 0.31, 0.28, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.98, 0.98, 0.96, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.73, 0.35, 0.14, 0.50)
  colorLowland   (0.82, 0.37, 0.17, 0.80)
  colorUpland    (0.98, 0.98, 0.96, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.60, 0.60, 0.60, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


Pardo

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.25, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.37, 0.31, 0.28, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.78, 0.75, 0.64, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.51, 0.44, 0.34, 0.50)
  colorLowland   (0.63, 0.58, 0.45, 0.80)
  colorUpland    (0.91, 0.90, 0.75, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.39, 0.39, 0.23, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


Ganymede 2

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.25, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.37, 0.31, 0.28, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.77, 0.70, 0.64, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.82, 0.75, 0.69, 0.50)
  colorLowland   (0.73, 0.70, 0.64, 0.80)
  colorUpland    (0.69, 0.65, 0.61, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.53, 0.43, 0.37, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


Brown-grey colors

Palette {
  Class          "IceWorld"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.25, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.37, 0.31, 0.28, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.60, 0.56, 0.54, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.49, 0.36, 0.25, 0.50)
  colorLowland   (0.75, 0.69, 0.66, 0.80)
  colorUpland    (0.76, 0.74, 0.70, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.25, 0.21, 0.15, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


Blue-grey

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.28, 0.26, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.30, 0.28, 0.27, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.01, 0.01, 0.03, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.22, 0.30, 0.41, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.69, 0.61, 0.53, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.30, 0.29, 0.27, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.41, 0.37, 0.36, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.61, 0.59, 0.70, 1.00)
}


Light colour

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.28, 0.26, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.30, 0.28, 0.27, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.79, 0.75, 0.72, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.75, 0.73, 0.72, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.68, 0.67, 0.64, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.57, 0.59, 0.60, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.55, 0.55, 0.56, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.69, 0.66, 0.62, 1.00)
}


Red-brown-grey colors

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.28, 0.26, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.30, 0.28, 0.27, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.08, 0.04, 0.04, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.90, 0.42, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.62, 0.11, 0.10, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.90, 0.42, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.34, 0.16, 0.09, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.69, 0.66, 0.62, 1.00)
}


Red-black-grey colors

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.28, 0.26, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.30, 0.28, 0.27, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.08, 0.04, 0.04, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.08, 0.04, 0.04, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.62, 0.11, 0.10, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.08, 0.04, 0.04, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.34, 0.16, 0.09, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.69, 0.66, 0.62, 1.00)
}


Light brown colors

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.84, 0.73, 0.57, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.85, 0.75, 0.60, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.34, 0.29, 0.20, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.46, 0.38, 0.27, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.56, 0.47, 0.32, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.58, 0.50, 0.36, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.73, 0.63, 0.48, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.69, 0.66, 0.62, 1.00)
}


Grey colors

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.81, 0.81, 0.81, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.63, 0.65, 0.65, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.58, 0.56, 0.58, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.61, 0.61, 0.63, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.72, 0.72, 0.72, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.78, 0.78, 0.78, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.54, 0.54, 0.56, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.69, 0.66, 0.62, 1.00)
}


Dark grey colors

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.30, 0.30, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.30, 0.30, 0.30, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.25, 0.25, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.25, 0.25, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.30, 0.30, 0.30, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.80, 0.80, 0.80, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.24, 0.24, 0.26, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.30, 0.30, 0.30, 1.00)
}


Dark grey with more white clouds

Palette {
  Class          "GasGiant"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.30, 0.30, 0.30, 1.00)
  colorShelf     (0.80, 0.80, 0.80, 1.00)
  colorBeach     (0.25, 0.25, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorDesert    (0.25, 0.25, 0.25, 1.00)
  colorLowland   (0.30, 0.30, 0.30, 1.00)
  colorUpland    (0.80, 0.80, 0.80, 1.00)
  colorRock      (0.24, 0.24, 0.26, 1.00)
  colorSnow      (0.30, 0.30, 0.30, 1.00)
}
Deserts:


Olivine mountains

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.86, 0.70, 0.50, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.75, 0.59, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.63, 0.48, 0.35, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.38, 0.30, 0.20, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.09, 0.12, 0.07, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


Red desert

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.81, 0.45, 0.32, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.61, 0.31, 0.21, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.76, 0.45, 0.32, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.96, 0.57, 0.39, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.42, 0.24, 0.16, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


Cream and red dunes

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.80, 0.77, 0.51, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.88, 0.67, 0.48, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.80, 0.69, 0.49, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.99, 1.00, 0.75, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.56, 0.50, 0.30, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


Arid badlands

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.69, 0.46, 0.35, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.43, 0.24, 0.18, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.49, 0.38, 0.39, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.90, 0.51, 0.33, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.37, 0.25, 0.27, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


Red and yellow surface

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.51, 0.35, 0.27, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.74, 0.58, 0.36, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.65, 0.52, 0.27, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.67, 0.47, 0.32, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.50, 0.34, 0.24, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


Light turquesa desert

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.41, 0.67, 0.63, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.26, 0.31, 0.23, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.49, 0.63, 0.49, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.38, 0.59, 0.50, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.36, 0.39, 0.33, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


Contrast colors

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.51, 0.51, 0.49, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.19, 0.19, 0.22, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.55, 0.49, 0.46, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.49, 0.49, 0.47, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.42, 0.41, 0.40, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}


Butano

Palette {
  Class          "Desert"
  StyleRange     (0.00, 0.00)
  colorSea       (0.69, 0.54, 0.42, 0.00)
  colorShelf     (0.64, 0.50, 0.37, 0.00)
  colorBeach     (0.92, 0.56, 0.26, 0.00)
  colorDesert    (0.85, 0.50, 0.24, 0.00)
  colorLowland   (0.71, 0.47, 0.29, 0.00)
  colorUpland    (0.55, 0.40, 0.33, 0.00)
  colorRock      (0.51, 0.43, 0.40, 0.00)
  colorSnow      (1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 1.00)
}